Twrch Trwyth (person)

The great boar of Welsh mythology, which features strongly in the tale of Culhwch and Olwen and is mentioned in the Mirabilia of the Historia Brittonum. The boar has its origins in paganCeltic religious beliefs, and is probably some kind of pre-Christian animal god, but no one is quite sure, as these were never written down. The Irish similarly have a goddess Brigit, who had a a king of the boars named Triath (which is cognate with Trwyth of course).

The Twrch Trwyth was once a human king, but has been transformed, together with his seven sons (1) into pigs as a punishment for wickedness. The king is not named neither is the precise nature of these sins stated, although I would suggest that the Twrch Trwyth is actually non other than Vortigern. He certainly fits the bill, having (at least traditionally if not historically), committed the sin of marrying his own daughter, and fathering a son by her. (In addition of course, to committing the sin of inviting the Anglo-Saxons into Britain in the first place.)

More importantly, the Historia Britonnum, when it relates the tale of Vortigern and Germanus, makes reference to Vortigern's son giving him a razor, scissors, and comb that symbolise Vortigern's guilt. I think it no coincidence that these are the very treasures located between the ears of the Twrch Trwyth.